The best peach cobbler is super easy, quick, and can be made in your oven or out camping. It's flavor, ease, and minimal dishes make it the best peach cobbler recipe. Dump peaches, a cake mix, and butter into a cast iron skillet or dutch oven for a super easy summer dessert that's done in just an hour.
[This recipe was originally posted in May 2018. It has been updated with new photos, cooking instructions, expert tips, FAQ, related recipes, video and ways to repurpose/use up ingredients]
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I made a recipe similar to this dutch oven peach cobbler for a client last week. It was so delicious and easy, that I had to make a few small tweaks to make it perfect for Nourish Nutrition Blog. This is THE best peach cobbler, just ask anyone whose tried it (even my sister who doesn't like mushy fruit liked it).
How will the best peach cobbler make your life easier?
This recipe is so easy, it just takes 5 minutes to throw together, it's one you can let the little ones help prep, and you can let your oven do all the work. Serve it with Cajun Tin Foil Dinners or a pizza (peach caprese, fig & prosciutto, or pear & goat cheese) cooked on your fire if you're camping. Or go all out camping dessert (at home) with these Indoor Campfire S'mores.
If you want a delicious peach dessert for one, try this skillet peach cobbler instead. It's just as simple but takes less time to cook and won't leave you with days and days of leftovers.
Other great summer dessert recipes
- Red, White, & Blue Popsicles
- Easy Strawberry Sauce (to top ice cream of course!)
- Frozen Greek Yogurt w/ Tart Cherry Sauce
What makes this dutch oven peach cobbler so good?
- Canned Peaches
- Brown sugar
- Cinnamon
- Yellow cake mix
- Butter
How do I make this cobbler?
Preheat oven to 350 degrees, or prepare coals in firepit. Spray (4-6 qt) dutch oven or (10-12 in) cast iron skillet with cooking spray.
Dump two 29 oz cans of peaches (with ½ of the total juice drained) into skillet. Sprinkle (2T) brown sugar and (1 t) cinnamon evenly over peaches.
Expert Tip: Use canned peaches or fresh peaches (when in season). There will still be a lot of juice in pan, but the juice will be absorbed by the cake mix.
Expert Tip: Drain juice from one can so it doesn't get too gooey. Save remaining juice to flavor yogurt, top ice cream, or add to fruit salad.
Sprinkle 1 box dry yellow cake mix over peaches. Spread out evenly.
Thinly slice (½ stick) butter, and distribute butter slices on top of cake mix. Transfer to hot oven or campfire and cook for 60 (oven)-90mins (campfire).
Expert Tip: Cover if cooking over fire, can bake without a lid (that's what I do). Cook for 60 minutes, or up to 90 depending on campfire temperature. Top should be golden brown and peach juices bubbly.
Remove and serve immediately. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream if desired.
Expert Tips
- I love using canned peaches because 1. fresh peaches out of season are NO GOOD! I'm a peach snob. and 2. you'll get lots of great juices and 3. they're way less expensive
- Drain juice from one of the two 29 oz cans of peaches. That way it'll still be ooey & gooey, but not watery.
- Save the juice to flavor yogurt, smoothies, ice cream, or anything else that peaches would go well with. Love using fruit as a sweetener because of the added flavor and nutrients.
- Use peaches packed in their own juices. They taste extra peachy (instead of extra sweet) and are just delicious.
FAQ
What if I just want to make this for one?
I decided to share this large recipe because a) this is so delicious & fun to share and b) ½ recipe wouldn't work as well in my large cast iron skillet. But it's easy to cut in ½ or ¼ if you're serving a small crowd or yourself. Or just make this skillet peach crumble.
Do you have to peel peaches for cobbler?
This recipe is easier because it calls for canned peaches, which are peeled. But if you're using fresh seasonal peaches you can do whichever you like. The peels will likely separate from the peaches but they add a bit of texture, flavor, and is easier to not peel. But if you don't like peach peels, definitely peel them.
Can you prepare peach cobbler ahead of time?
Absolutely, the cobbler topping won't be quite as tender and crisp as it is when eaten right away, but it can be reheated easily and quickly. No need to prepare the ingredients ahead of time because this cobbler comes together in just 5 minutes.
Can you leave peach cobbler out overnight?
Yes, there's no dairy, so no need to always refrigerate it. But the peach cobbler in a dutch oven will last longer if refrigerated. Recommend refrigerating if you'll be eating leftovers for more than 2 days after making it.
How can I repurpose this cobbler?
Heat it up and serve with yogurt in the morning
What can I make the leftover ingredients?
It's easier to make a full recipe of this for a group or for days of desserts, but if you'd like to just make fewer portions you can use the remaining ingredients to make
- (peaches) Salmon with Peach and Tomato Salad (just drain & dry peaches well)
- (peaches) Peach & Prosciutto Caprese Pizza (just drain & dry peaches well)
- (peaches) Peach Crumble for One
- (cake mix) just make a small cake or a cobbler with different fruit
Did you make the best peach cobbler? Leave me a comment & rating to share how it/they turned out!
The Best Peach Cobbler
Equipment
- can opener
- 12 in Cast Iron Skillet OR 4-6 qt Dutch Oven
- knife
- cutting board
Ingredients
- 2 29 oz cans of peaches, in peach juice drain juice from 1 of the cans
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- ½ stick butter (4 tablespoons)
- ice cream or whipped cream (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees, or prepare coals in firepit. Spray dutch oven or cast iron skillet with cooking spray.
- Dump two 29 oz cans of peaches (with ½ of the total juice drained) into skillet. Sprinkle (2T) brown sugar and (1 t) cinnamon evenly over peaches. (there will still be a lot of juice in pan, but the juice will be absorbed by the cake mix).
- Sprinkle 1 box dry yellow cake mix over peaches. Spread out evenly. Thinly slice (½ stick) butter, and distribute butter slices on top of cake mix.
- Cover if cooking over fire, can bake without a lid (that's what I do). Cook for 60 minutes, or up to 90 depending on campfire temperature. Top should be golden brown and peach juices bubbly.
- Remove and serve immediately. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream if desired.
Notes
- I love using canned peaches because 1. fresh peaches out of season are NO GOOD! I'm a peach snob. and 2. you'll get lots of great juices and 3. they're way less expensive
- Drain juice from one of the two 29 oz cans of peaches. That way it'll still be ooey & gooey, but not watery.
- Save the juice to flavor yogurt, smoothies, ice cream, or anything else that peaches would go well with. Love using fruit as a sweetener because of the added flavor and nutrients.
- Use peaches packed in their own juices. They taste extra peachy (instead of extra sweet) and are just delicious.
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Saima says
It does indeed look like the best peach cobbler! And so easy to make. Will be trying it soon for sure:-)
Rebecca says
it's so good! thanks!
Katie | Healthy Seasonal Recipes says
I gotta love when an RD gives me the thumbs up on using a box of cake mix! Ha ha! Fun idea for a camping dessert Rebecca! Yum yum!
Rebecca says
haha! always! I took a food science class in college & we determined that cake mixes were better than homemade... unless that homemade cake is an Ina Garten cake, then it's always Ina 😉
Shanna Jones says
Love this quick and easy version! I couldn't agree with you more on saving that extra peach juice. I use it for so many other recipes; including my peach cobbler "sauce" for ice cream and other desserts.
Rebecca says
right?! it's so versatile & delicious. thanks
Jenna Smith says
Does it matter what size Cast Iron Dutch you use over a fire?
Rebecca says
Hi Jenna, great question- not really. I cooked mine in a 12in skillet, which doesn't necessarily translate to dutch oven sizes. I'd recommend about 4-5 qt dutch ovens (or a bit smaller/bigger than that). Too big, then it'll probably just be a layer of peaches and not enough topping, but if it's too small, it may take longer to cook & the topping/peach ratio may be off since there's not as much space on top to use all the topping.
camila says
wow this looks unreal! So delicious!! Scrumptious!
Rebecca says
thanks so much!
Ellen says
I love making desserts in a skillet. This is easy and perfect for a last minute gathering.
Rebecca says
so true!
Sue Hopf says
This recipe cooks peaches then cake mix over top, should the mix be over peaches then cooked?
Rebecca says
oops! good catch-thanks! You'll add the peaches, spices & sugar, then the cake mix and butter, then cover/don't and bake it for 60 minutes. The recipe card is updated now, so refer to that!
Cara says
Tried this recipe tonight for the first time and it was a total bomb... sorry! I really wanted to like it. I followed the recipe to the letter (12" cast iron skillet, no lid, drained off one can of peach juice), and when I took it out of the oven it was nothing but liquid on the bottom with a layer of dry cake mix on top. I ended up gently stirring the dry mix into the liquid and put it back in the oven for 20+ minutes to bake longer. That was honestly the only thing that saved it. The taste was fine, but won't be making this one again.
Rebecca says
hmmm I'm sorry it didn't work for you Cara. I've made this a bunch and the times I ended up with the layers not melding, I didn't spread the cake mix out well enough (it works really well when the mix falls down between the peaches and soaks up the peach juice) and when I didn't add enough butter. That adds some moisture to the mix & helps it get nice & golden brown. Hope that helps if you ever wanted to try it again
Leta Woolard says
Would you recommend adding any liquid when using fresh peaches?
Rebecca says
Hi Leta, great question! I haven't made it with fresh peaches yet, but yes, probably. A few fresh peach recipes call for 1/2-1 c added liquid (either water or milk). I'm guessing you'd get about 3/4-1 c juice from 1 can of peaches, so start with that and see how it comes out. Let me know if you make it!